Synthesis and photocatalytic activity of Bi2WO6 microspheres with hierarchical structure

Bi2WO6 photocatalysts were fabricated through a hydrothermal process. The phase, microstructure and photocatalytic activity of the obtained Bi2WO6 photocatalysts were investigated. The XRD and FTIR results indicate that the fabricated Bi2WO6 have an orthorhombic phase. The SEM images demonstrate that the fabricated Bi2WO6 has a hierarchical structure. The hierarchical structure may provide Bi2WO6 microsphers with abundant mesopores and thus afford more active sites for photocatalytic reactions, which can improve the photocatalytic activity of Bi2WO6 photocatalyst. The photocatalytic activity of the fabricated Bi2WO6 was evaluated by the degradation of organic dyes under simulated light irradiation. The degradation efficiency of MO is about 92.6% when the system is irradiated by simulated light for 150 min.